The fourth round of the Motul
Clubmans Championship was hosted at Zwartkops Raceway on 17-18 May that saw its
largest field of competitors. Seven classes were represented, including an
expanded Super Saloon’s grid. With two practice sessions available on Friday,
drivers were able to fine-tune their setup ahead of Saturday’s qualifying.

On Saturday morning thirty-two
competitors took to the track for the 15-minute qualifying session. With a grid as large as this, the circuit was
buzzing with activity during the class-defining qualifying session. While most competitors had cemented
themselves in their respective classes, some who had entered for the first time
this season, had still to be classified as per their lap time. The 1974 Porsche
of Ricard Schuhardt (RS Motorsport Botswana), now competing at his second event
in Super Saloons, set the overall pace, taking up the top spot on the grid.
Alongside him making up the front row was Class A pace-setter, and Round 3
sensation, Keagan Pottas (ATPM Honda Civic). Marius Jacobs, who was
considerably quicker during Friday’s practice, settled for the third position
overall and second in the Super Saloon class.

Race 1 saw a lightning start
from Jacobs, who managed to get the jump on Schuhardt and Pottas into Turn 1.
Jacobs, who leads the Super Saloon championship standings, held onto the lead
for only a few laps before being passed by Schuhardt, having much more grip
available running larger wheels and slicks. Pottas, who took overall victory at
the previous Phakisa round, led Class A, with Brummer and Van Jaarsveld squabbling
over the Class B honours. Brummer, however, suffered a technical issue on Lap 3,
forcing him to retire his normally-aspirated VW Polo. With a subsequently safety-car
deployed, the field was again bunched up, with a shortened 6-lap race to the
finish.

Class C and D saw some of the most
competitive racing on the day with 14 competitors across both classes. It was
however the ever-green Economides who reigned supreme in Class C and the
consistent Duane Brown (Brown’s Auto Ford Fiesta) in Class D who finished top
of the podium. Keanu Venter (Acrotek LR Supplies VW Golf Mk1) and David
Potgieter (AllWagen & 111 Plumbers VW Golf Mk2), good friends off-track,
resumed their season-long on-track Class E rivalry with Venter getting one over
Potgieter. In Class F, debutants Almero van Eck (Taurus VW Golf) and Reno van
Heerden (Glock VW Polo), finished first and second respectively, ahead of
Richard Hodgson (VW Golf Mk1).

With dusk approaching, Race 2 got
underway behind the pace-car. At the lights, it was Jacobs who took advantage
of the clear track ahead, having started in front. Schubardt, who started from the back of the
entire field (having not made it into the pre-race paddock in time following
his participation in the previous race also), was careful in negotiating his
way through the slower-paced cars, who themselves were battling for position.
At times, there were four cars abreast heading into a turn. Pottas meanwhile slowly closed the gap to
Jacobs and later benefitted from a safety-car period, brought out by a stranded
Wayne Lebotschy on the outside of turn 8. Lebotschy (VW Golf Mk1) has been
unfortunate on numerous occasions so far this season, with the latest seeing a control
arm rose-joint fail on his car.

Once the safety car pulled in,
it was a one-lap dash for the line. Pottas, who was now on the rear bumper of
Jacobs, made the winning pass into Turn 5, a popular overtaking point at
Zwartkops. Jacobs was unable to challenge and Pottas claimed his fourth
consecutive Class A win since entering his turbo-charged Honda Civic. Jacobs
took the Super Saloon Class win followed closely by Schubardt, who drove
brilliantly to pass the entire.

Despite suffering another
technical issue mid-race, Brummer brought it home in the first position ahead
of Van Jaarsveld in Class B, while Ismail Peck (National Hotrods Mzansi Honda
Civic) took the Class C win. Brown made it two wins for the day in Class D and
Venter also did the double in Class E. Loukie Verway (ELFTRANS VW Golf Mk2)
claimed the victory in Class F.

The 2019 Motul Clubmans
Championship is run as part of the ever popular, regional EV Dynamics Inland
Championship and is contested over nine rounds. The next round of the
championship will be hosted at Dezzi Raceway in KZN on a date that will still
be confirmed.